Good Old Boat Issue 142: Jan/Feb 2022

two sides, so it sticks out (the tenon), and cutting a chunk out of the center piece to create a gap (the mortice). This simple method eliminated the need to drill, cut, and shape each joint. Another design factor was storing the mast at a height sufficient to provide standing headroom in the cockpit and to clear the dodger so that it could be left up. This way, I could also rig a tarp or awning over the

The tenon (left) is a piece of the central 1 x 4 that is longer so that it sticks out of the three-layer laminate. The mortice (right) is a gap cut out of the central 1 x 4, top left. Assembling the supports is simply a matter of sliding the tenons into the mortices. No mechanical fasteners are needed, above. One of the supports fully assembled. The mast sits securely between the top two vertical chocks, above right.

mast and tie it to the supports to provide a full cockpit cover for really sunny or rainy days. It was easy enough to calculate this height for the middle support; I tied a piece of string to the bow pulpit, pulled it taut, and then raised it high enough to clear everything. Then I had a helper measure

the distance from the deck where the support would stand up to the string, and subtracted 3½ inches (the width of the 1 x 4 in the support’s cross beam). I did the same thing to calculate the aft support’s height, this time taking the string to the location and height of where the middle support would

QUALITY MARINE EQUIPMENT SINCE 1981

QUALITY MARINE EQUIPMENT SINCE 1981

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Propeller with Velox Plus applied after 12 months at sea!

Learn more at www.pyiinc.com

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January/February 2022